Outdoor briefs

November 4, 2012

LEWISBURG - Through Nov. 17, an exhibition of 30 oil and watercolor paintings of regional streams by Alice Kelsey and Jeanne McKinney will be on display at Faustina Gallery, 229 Market St.

The "Upstream: Images of Susquehanna Waterways" exhibit "speaks to the beauty that surrounds us and the threat that is under," according to organizers. The paintings focus primarily on streams within the waterbasin of the West Branch Susquehanna, especially those in Union and Snyder counties.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy, which promotes stewardship of area streams.

HUGHESVILLE - Dr. Harvey Katz, a fisheries biologist, will discuss the many issues and activities affecting the natural environment, during an open membership meeting of the Black Hole Creek and Muncy Creek watershed associations.

The free public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Hughesville Area Public Library, 146 S. Fifth St.

For more information, call Becky Sanguedolce at 547-6289.

Take a hike with regional group

The Otzinachson Regional Group of the Sierra Club and the Edward Abbey Hiking Society will hold a number of hikes throughout the region in the fall.

They are open to the public, but hikers must contact the hike leader prior to the event. Participants are advised to bring lunch and water on every hike.

Hikes will be held:

Saturday - Mid State Trail, Tioga County, 11 miles, strenuous. We will hike one of the newest sections of the MST, a scenic traverse between Hammond Lake and Hills Creek Lake, east of Wellsboro in Tioga County. Meet at parking lot behind Lewisburg Post Office at 7:30 a.m. or along Hills Creek Road by Hills Creek State Park entrance at 9:30 a.m. Leader: Duane Button, 596-3454.

Next Sunday - R.B. Winter State Park, Union County, 10 miles, moderate to strenuous. Meet at the parking lot at the breast of the dam along Route 192 at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Joe Rebar, 259-0134.

Nov. 17 - Tiadaghton State Forest, Lycoming County, 12.3 miles, strenuous. Meet at 7:45 a.m. at the parking lot of the Comfort Inn in New Columbia, just off Route 15 south of Interstate 80, or at 9 a.m. at the parking area along Route 414 off of Slate Run Road. Leader: Tony Robbins, tony.robbins@excellservices.com.

Nov. 25 - R.B. Winter State Park, Union County, 10 miles, moderate to strenuous. Meet at the parking lot at the breast of the dam along Route 192 at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Joe Rebar, 259-0134.

Dec. 2 - The Chili Hike, Luzerne County, eight miles, moderate. This year's chili hike will take us back to North Mountain for a brisk walk followed by a bowl of hot chili and cold beverages at the leaders' home near Stillwater. Meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the Ricketts Glen Hotel, one mile east of Red Rock on Route 118. Leaders: Catherine McLaughlin and Ed Lawrence, cathyed@nationi.net, 925-5285.

Dec. 9 - Appalachian Trail, Perry County, 12 miles, strenuous. The hike begins at Route 944 and climbs to the top of Cove Mountain, following the ridgeline to Hawk Rock with spectacular views of the Juniata and Susquehanna rivers and Duncannon. Meet at the K-Mart parking lot along Route 15 in Shamokin Dam at 8:30 a.m. or at Sheetz along Route 322 just north of Duncannon at 9. Leader: Paul Shaw, 717-215-8339 or pshaw@ptd.net.

Dec. 16 - R.B. Winter State Park, Union County, 10 miles, moderate to strenuous. Meet at the parking lot at the breast of the dam along Route 192 at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Joe Rebar, 259-0134.

Women in the Outdoors event planned

STROUDSBURG - A Women in the Outdoors event will be held Nov. 17 at Pocono Pistol, 85 N. First St. Attendees must be members of the National Wild Turkey Federation, but memberships may be purchase upon registration. A fee also applies to register for the event.

Four courses will be offered: Purchasing a Gun, Gun Maintenance, Basics of Concealment and Explore Archery.

For more information, or to register, call Tricia Fritz at 570-421-7950.

Club offers free snowmobile course

HANEYVILLE - Registrations are being accepted now for a free snowmobile safety course planned for Nov. 17 at the Hyner Mountain Snowmobile Club lodge, along Route 44, about six miles north of here in Clinton County.

State law requires that children ages 10 to 15 earn a safety certificate before lawfully operating a snowmobile, except upon lands owned or leased by their parents or legal guardians.

The goal of the course, which was developed by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is to develop safe attitudes in all Keystone State snowmobilers. Student manuals and workbooks will illustrate the sport's basic principles and safety concepts. Course content will cover winter clothing, machine safety and snowmobile laws and regulations. Class participants qualify for a certificate by completing their workbooks and achieving a score of 80 percent or better on the final examination.

Course instructors will be Henry Hartman, of Hanover, and Harrison Langley Jr., of Palmyra.

Parents must accompany their children to registration so required forms may be completed. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Class starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The club will provide lunch.

Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 30 students. Registration priority will be given to those between the ages of 10 to 15.

Students who register in advance will be guaranteed a seat until 8 a.m. Walk-in students, including adults, only will be accepted if the class is not completely filled or if the registered students do not arrive by 8.

STATE COLLEGE - The Pennsylvania chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its 38th annual rendezvous and awards banquet on Jan. 5 at the Ramada Inn.

Seminars include:

Habitat-Martin Run Project, 12:30-1:30 p.m. - Learn about this project in the Allegheny National Forest that included oak release, opening construction and restoration, herbicides, native warm season grasses, vernal pond construction, and installation of nesting and roosting structures.

Outreach workshop, 2-3 p.m. - Share ideas to improve local outreach programs such as JAKES, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin' events and hunts. Discover how to grow committees and fund events.

Understanding the New Super Fund Split, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

A prime rib and stuffed chicken dinner follows, with raffles and silent and live auctions. A variety of prizes are up for grabs.

Attendees may purchase the early bird raffle package by Dec. 31 and receive $300 worth of tickets for $100. Donations may be submitted for prizes.